Olympic qualifying roster released

[Namdynamo]

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_5406738.html

GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (Chicago Fire), Tally Hall (Esbjerg fB), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Hunter Freeman (New York Red Bulls), Kamani Hil (Vfl Wolfsburg), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Mike Randolph (LA Galaxy), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)
FORWARDS (5): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire),
Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

Bradley and Spector may be added later during the semifinal.

[Soccernova78]

Coolness.

[IndividualEleven]

Standard BB base formation of:

------------------Altidore----Adu--------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
-------Rogers-------------------------Holden---------
-----------------Feilhaber--McCarty------------------
------------------------------------------------------
----Orozco--------------------------------Wynne-----
------------------Sturgis----Ianni---------------------
------------------------Seitz-------------------------


Questions are:

Orozco. Don't no if he's better than Randolph or not.

Edu. Needed more for depth in central defense but otherwise would start in central midfield.

Of the center mids listed, only McCarty has any defensive bite to his game.

[wooglin12]

I'm excited about this roster. It'll be interesting to see a team consisting mostly of MLS'ers do.

I bet Chad Barrett grabs the golden boot. As a thief, not because of goals.

[Kevin8833]

Standard BB base formation of:

------------------Altidore----Adu--------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
-------Rogers-------------------------Holden---------
-----------------Feilhaber--McCarty------------------
------------------------------------------------------
----Orozco--------------------------------Wynne-----
------------------Sturgis----Ianni---------------------
------------------------Seitz-------------------------


Questions are:

Orozco. Don't no if he's better than Randolph or not.

Edu. Needed more for depth in central defense but otherwise would start in central midfield.

Of the center mids listed, only McCarty has any defensive bite to his game.
Edu has transitioned very smoothly to CB and is way to good not to start, especially if you are going with Ianni and Sturgis at CB there is no way Mccarty starts over Edu with Feilhaber. But Edu will start at CB with Ianni(Unless Spector comes then Ianni goes to the bench) Randolph will start at RB, Orozco plays CB and will probably just be depth the 3rd or 4th CB, Nowak is very high on Kljestan and should be, no offense to Mccarty he is a great player but will be the first player off the bench in my opinion and can be played anywhere in the midfield or RB. One other move Nowak might make which I am not sure if I agree with is he may start Alvarez over Rogers. Here is what I think the game 1 starting lineup for Qualifying will be:

---------------Seitz--------------
Wynne----Ianni---Edu----Randolph
Holden--Feilhaber--Kljesta---Alvarez
----------------Adu---------------
--------------Altidore-------------

For the semifinal round I think Spector will be there and take Ianni's spot, and Rogers might out play Alvarez, my only concerns though are Ianni and Randolph if those two play well enough we will have no problem qualifying. We also have tons of depth past our starting eleven which will be very helpful throughout the tournament.

[cyberthoth]

Where is Harrington???? I had high hopes for him earlier in the year.

[Nutmeg]

So our plan for our guy who has shown he can cover an amazing amount of ground, make smart passes, score goals, maintain composure in tight spaces, and add defensive bite to the midfield is to move him to central defense?

Lame.

[JuanPeron]

Edu has transitioned very smoothly to CB and is way to good not to start.

It was two games against a modest Chinese team. Stop overstating it...Edu has transitioned very smoothly to CB .

[PVancouver]

I think it is a good plan. I like McCarty and I don't like Ianni. Bradley and McCarty will provide enough defensive bite in midfield. I haven't seen much of Edu but if he is as good as Nutmeg says he is let him start at center back.

[Namdynamo]

So our plan for our guy who has shown he can cover an amazing amount of ground, make smart passes, score goals, maintain composure in tight spaces, and add defensive bite to the midfield is to move him to central defense?

Lame.

I agree with you on this but would you rather have Ianni as first choice starter at center back? If you saw the Pan Pacific game or the game against the Chinese Olympic team, you wouldn't think twice about moving Edu back there.

Ianni is slow as molasses, I would rather have Edu and Sturgis starting over Ianni.

[metroflip73]

How many goals has Edu scored?

Plus, our defense on different levels has been our downfall. If Edu has to move to defense, then so be it. There just aren't enough players there, hence Kamani Hill moved to the backline as well.

[Jonny Bishop]

So our plan for our guy who has shown he can cover an amazing amount of ground, make smart passes, score goals, maintain composure in tight spaces, and add defensive bite to the midfield is to move him to central defense?

Lame.

Double lame. Frankly, I couldn't care less about winning a gold medal at the olympics. I'd rather see Edu get more PT at the position he actually plays for developments sake.

[smashthacan]

Edu has all the tools for both positions so why does it matter? No one knows which he has more potential at in regards to the international game. With the exception of the goalkeeper generally speaking, all other 10 both defend and play offense, so what's the big deal? Who wouldn't want to win a gold medal? Are you just saying you don't care about winning olympic gold because you didn't capitalize on your chance to win your own, special style?

[due time]

Double lame. Frankly, I couldn't care less about winning a gold medal at the olympics. I'd rather see Edu get more PT at the position he actually plays for developments sake.

At this point our full MNT is much more in need of an international caliber CB than we are DMid. If Edu can prove himself at CB, I'm all for it. But I don't know that a couple games against mediocre team is much of an indicator, either.

[Shaydee]

Orozco. Don't no if he's better than Randolph or not.


from the little I've seen of both I'd take Orozco

[giffenbone]

24 players, so 4-6 players get cut (4 if no Spector and Bradley, 5 if one of Spector and Bradley, 6 if both Spector and Bradley) for the final 20 man roster.

who are the first 4-6 you would cut?

[ugaaccountant]

Double lame. Frankly, I couldn't care less about winning a gold medal at the olympics. I'd rather see Edu get more PT at the position he actually plays for developments sake.

The olympics is a big deal. It's also not a developmental tournament. He'll develop in his club career. This is a once in 4 year chance to make people notice our team.

[Jonny Bishop]

The olympics is a big deal. It's also not a developmental tournament. He'll develop in his club career. This is a once in 4 year chance to make people notice our team.

I guess that's not the impression I have. I remember mentioning olympic soccer to a group of german soccer fans a few years back and they were unaware that it was even an event, couldn't have cared less. Hell, Iraq finished fourth last time around while Brazil didn't even qualify.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to do well, but... whatever.

[Missionary]

The olympics is a big deal. It's also not a developmental tournament. He'll develop in his club career. This is a once in 4 year chance to make people notice our team.

Forget the world. Its a big deal in America and always has been. If the uSA goes deep in the tornie it will do a lot towards making Major league soccer popular here IMO.

[smashthacan]

I guess that's not the impression I have. I remember mentioning olympic soccer to a group of german soccer fans a few years back and they were unaware that it was even an event, couldn't have cared less. Hell, Iraq finished fourth last time around while Brazil didn't even qualify.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to do well, but... whatever.

So you let German soccer fans determine your opinion of the event? Double lame negative nancy. 2 cool whateva